Best Alternate Location for NO Bowl ?

[MeanGreen61]

NO Bowl is scheduled for 12/20.

Alamo Bowl - 12/28

Indy Bowl - 12/30

Houston Bowl - 12/31

Seems that any of the three current bowl locations could accommodate the NO Bowl. UL-Lafayette has also been mentioned as a possible location.

PS: Know I'm treadin on PMG's territory here

Edited September 1, 2005 by MeanGreen61

[EagleD]

For purely selfish reasons I choose the Alamodome, but it should end up in Shreveport at the Indy bowl, b/c Louisiana can use all the help they can get.

[calvin]

To me Shreveport makes the most sense.

[untgirl04]

Honestly, I would be happy with either San Antonio or Shreveport. Because of the state money from Shreveport, I think that would really help us.

But, San Antonio has so much to do, and is an absolutely beautiful area of the country. There's a lot of fun to be had in that city, and since they don't have a professional football team (although they want one), the city supports football well. Plus, who can pass up on all that absolutely fantastic Tex-Mex?!

[GreenN'walinsVet]

Personally i would like to see it move to San Antonio. Realistically my guess is it will end up in Baton Rouge with the Sugar Bowl.

Edited September 1, 2005 by GreenN'walinsVet

[Cowtown]

Layfette

Sunbelt team would get extra support from locals.

Sunbelt offices are now located there so they would have a hands on approach to promoting the game.

And mostly I would much rather go to one of the gem's of the south over the armpit that is Shreeveport.

Whats good for the Belt is good for NT.

[PlummMeanGreen]

Personally i would like to see it move to San Antonio.  Realistically my guess is it will end up in Baton Rouge with the Sugar Bowl.

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Ditto...

You've trumped me with this poll, MG61. It's a good poll that is most relevant for all of us in the SBC these days.

[H-towngreen]

Hold it at Reliant Stadium. Its closer to NO than San Antonio, and nicer that the others, plus its only 30 min away from me.

[monkeycage]

Of the options given, San Antonio is most tourist-friendly. No gambling, perhaps, but there are plenty other things to do. For those folks who want to bring the family, there is Sea World, Fiesta Texas, the Alamo and the Riverwalk. There are plenty of good places to eat and plenty of hotel accommodations available.

The Spurs are travelling at the time, which will give Sunbelters open run of the Riverwalk. This is probably the closest that we get to Bourbon Street. Open containers are generally permissible in the Riverwalk.

[EagleD]

I've got an idea.

And it's just crazy enough to work...

You rename the "NO Bowl" the "Hurricane Bowl". You won't know well in advance where it'll happen. But once the conference champion is decided, we chose a place close to that city. We could probably narrow it down to 4 or five venues before the season starts. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross, of course.

BTW what happens to the Sugar Bowl?

[Arkstfan]

Analyzing the situation.

San Antonio. Very unlikely. For most of the league it increases the travel involved for fans. Same story for CUSA if an Eastern division team is in. Lacks the "feel good" of keeping the game in Louisiana. Another downside is playing a game that will draw 25,000 or so in a 65,000 seat facility.

Houston. Same story as San Antonio.

Baton Rouge. No way that CUSA or the SBC wants to step inside a 90,00 plus seat stadium.

Lafayette. Proximity is good, won't find a more fun location of that size. League office is already there. If the bridge and highway issues aren't resolved around New Orleans it can be difficult to reach for schools coming in from the east. A crowd of 25,000 in a 30,000 seat stadium will look just fine.

Shreveport. Stadium is larger than Cajun Field but a very intriguing possibility. 25,000 in a 49,000 seat stadium doesn't look too bad. In the new bowl market we have multiple bowls are being managed by single entities. We have a few cities with two games administered by one group. We have ESPN Regional Sports managing three different games. The I-Bowl is one of the strongest independent games left because of great community support. They've gone a couple years without a real title sponsor and still cough up over a million per team. The New Orleans Bowl by neccessity is run on a shoe-string through the GNOSF who contracts the Belt to do administrative duties. A long-term partnership between the I-Bowl and the "Louisiana Bowl" could be a plus for both seeking sponsorships and in negotiating TV. It would help the I-Bowl locally. The casinos hate when TV pushes the I-Bowl too close to New Year's Eve because they are full with or without the game. A game a little further removed from New Year's Eve makes it easier to get money out of the casinos because then it helps their dead period. Last year when the SEC came up short they were scrambling for a replacement team. Already tied to a bowl with the SBC and CUSA would have made it easy for them to "trade" UNT to the I-Bowl and to call up Troy. Easier venue to reach for most schools in CUSA and the SBC. I'd like to see that option explored.

[Arkstfan]

I think it is a fairly safe bet that the Sugar will be in Baton Rouge.

[H-towngreen]

Actually Baton Rouge wouldn't be that bad. Easier travel than most other venues mentioned. Plus LSU. Half price tickets for students. That should get some bodies in the seats.

[untgirl04]

Although we want great attendance numbers, do we really want a bunch of rabid LSU students going to the game? I think we should pick a location that has a large (and relatively calm) supporting citybase.

[Green Jackal]

What about Fouts?

[SilverEagle]

What about Fouts? 

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What does Fouts have to do with this discussion?

[NTEdgex2]

I'd like to see it in Shreveport or Houston. Those are day trips, so we might be able to go. I'll have to work the next day. I've just started full-time, so I don't get any vacation for a year. I might be able to swing one day. Any chance they could change the date to the weekend? I guess it's too soon to say.

God bless the Gulf coast.

GMG!